North Avenue and its surrounding neighborhood had fallen into disrepair. But as gasoline prices rise for commuters from the white suburbs, this black neighborhood is too close to the center of Baltimore to continue in this state of benign neglect.

The window in the piece is a metaphor for prophecy Through this window North Avenue is pictured as segmented by and compressed between two forces. At the top are the steel and glass windows symbolizing downtown interests; below; the cracked sidewalks and the trash on the street show negative aspects of a neglected community The most prophetic aspect of the image is the almost complete disappearance of black people from the picture, both literally and figuratively My prediction is that North Avenue will be segmented and distorted, as it is in this work, until its original appearance and character have vanished [1987].